Building contractor prosecuted over failure to provide properly guarded saw

Grand Plans (UK) Ltd a London based building contractor has been fined after the hand of a carpenter was severely injured by an unguarded bench saw whilst working on the refurbishment of flats in October 2009.

The 22-year-old man were levelling and insulating the floors using an unguarded bench saw which was “available for use” on site.

Marylebone Magistrates heard (4 April) that the carpenter was feeding timber to the saw when the wood slipped and his hand contacted the saw blade severing parts of his right hand little finger and ring fingers. The injuries mean he cannot continue with his career as a carpenter.

New saw with a guard was on site within days

Grand Plans (UK) Ltd, which is now in liquidation, was found guilty of breaching Regulation 11 of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment 1998 in relation to the incident after failing to attend the court hearing. The company was fined £7,500 and ordered to pay full costs of £3,881.

After the hearing the HSE Inspector Danielle Coppell said:

“A basic guard fitted to the bench saw, is all it would have taken to prevent these injuries which have had such a devastating effect on such a young man.

The safety awareness from Grand Plans (UK) Ltd was clearly well below the required standard, and it was within the defendant’s capacity to rectify it.

Despite the fact that following the incident, a new saw with a guard was on site within days, this was too late and proves this was an entirely preventable incident which should have been anticipated.”